As a Social Science Technician in the Behavioral Health Care Line (BHCL), Health Care for Homeless Veterans Housing for Urban Development-Veteran Affairs Supported Housing (HUD-VASH) program, incumbent will be required to visit patients' homes for the purpose of assisting clinical staff, provide clerical support as needed, transporting patients to and from the HCHV program and may be required to transport patients to the BHCL's other sites including VHA WNY Medical Center.

Duties

Screens, Advises & Assists Patients Personally greets veterans their significant others requesting assistance. He/she determines the nature of the care needs, questions or complaints. Answers questions, provides information and gives guidance. Obtains all key information needed from the veteran and initiates the admission process and enters data into computer. Motivate patients to utilize the services of the programs to their fullest extant by example and interactions. Assist veterans to utilize appropriate resources within the Federal, State and local community as well as in the private sector. Fosters positive therapeutic patient interaction Determines Urgency/ Eligibility of Patients and Provides Daily Clinical Program Support Works cooperatively and collaboratively as a member of the treatment team with program staff and professionals, para-professionals, volunteers and others in the VA WYN Healthcare System and community agencies to help clients recognize and resolve their problems and needs. Works as part of the clinical team and carries out assignments to assist with patient activities such as group co-facilitation and daily monitoring of various therapeutic activities. Function as an integral member of the treatment team, participating in staff and team planning meetings to ensure that total resources of the program are made available to all veterans being served. Keep abreast of current procedures, processes and approaches to treatment services for veterans through reading, discussion, continuing education and other means. He/she will participate in services training, continued education, staff meeting and consultation. Recognize emergency situation, including assaultive, aggressive, combative, paranoid, behaviors, responding promptly and implementing appropriate procedures to access assistance to reduce risk of harm to patients and others. Support the patients and/or family members/ significant others in the integration of the patient care plan toward achievement of discharge objectives. Documents patients teaching and response to teaching. Follow established safety practices and reports to the supervisor as promptly as possible unsafe conditions, unsafe practices, and or any occupational illness or injury which is sustained. to all safety and health standards, regulations acceptable practice. Performs Administrative Tasks Assigned Performs administrative tasks as assigned by the Community Day Programs Program Manager and the HCHV senior staff. He/she uses computer hardware and software for data management, word processing, and communication. Documents all visits and client-related activities in individual patient electronic records in a timely manner, following procedures for scheduling. Follows the VHA Directive 2006-055, VHA Outpatient Scheduling Processes and Procedures, and its General Business Rules, if applicable, when scheduling patients for outpatient clinic appointments and any components of the scheduling process. This may include the rules for scheduling, consult management, PCMM, use of the electronic wait list (EWL), and the rules for handling no-shows, patient cancellations and clinic cancellations. Makes follow up phone calls when patients are expected, but do not attend. Reports to team leader or staff and documents efforts to contact patient in CPRS. Organizes and maintains filing systems for administrative, resource and training information. Independently compiles and prepares required reports and summaries, or submits pertinent data for inclusion. Assists in accumulation, collation and integration of data for special projects, technical reports and research including but not limited to North East Performance Evaluation Center (NEPEC) HUD-VASH projects. Monitors and makes recommendations for procuring materials and services. Initiates orders receives office supplies, equipment, or furnishings. Assists in inventories. Receives and screens incoming mail, telephone calls and visitors. Determines those that need to be brought to the attention of senior program staff. Handles any inquiries within the scope of his/her own expertise, or refers veteran to appropriate person. Utilizes vehicles to transport veterans to and from program and/or to and from appointments at the VA or in the community. Anticipates and coordinates vehicle needs with hospital and other community day programs in advance, to ensure adequate vehicles are available for program. Monitor and gather data as part of the unit quality improvement program. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 09/07/2023. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-05 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-04. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-04 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: screening, advising, and assisting patients to determine needs and solve problems; work with a clinical team to carry out assignments; document client related activities; perform administrative tasks such as scheduling, receives phone calls and follow up accordingly, maintaining files (paper and electronic); uses a vehicle to transport veterans, and assists with inventory and procurement. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have completion of a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position . OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. Only education in excess of the first 60 semester hours of a course of study leading to a bachelor's degree is creditable toward meeting the specialized experience requirements. Two full academic years of study, or 60 semester hours, beyond the second year is equivalent to (1) year of specialized experience. Determine your total qualifying experience as a percentage of the 1 year of specialized experience required at the GS-5 level. Then determine your education as a percentage of the education that meets the requirements for GS-5. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for GS-05. **** You must be qualified to drive a passenger vehicle and currently hold a valid NY State Driver's License.**** You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Applies Technology to TasksClericalCommunicationsCustomer Service (Clerical/Technical)Interpersonal SkillsInterpret Instructions, Specifications (mobile equipment operations)Manages ResourcesMotor Vehicles Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work involves driving in the WNY community to transport veterans, interacting with veterans, their families/significant others, and agencies. The work may be sedentary at times, with the incumbent seated at a desk. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items such as papers, books, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

Completion of a full four (4) year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree, with a major study or at least 24 semester hours in subjects directly related to the position.

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address VA Western New York Healthcare System 3495 Bailey Avenue Buffalo, NY 14215 US
• Name: Crystal Collier
• Email: [email protected]